Machine for making cups



' Oct. 31, 1939.

H. M. HILL MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed Oct. 6, 1936 7Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Herberi M Hill Oct. 31, 1939. H. M. HILL MACHINEFOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed Oct. 6, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR*fierl M i/i ZZ ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1939;

H. M. HILL MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed 0st. 6, 1936 7Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fierberZM. HZ ZZ f/Z. il

BY 4, ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1939.

H. M. HILL MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed Oct. 6, 1936 7Sheets-Sheet 5 Ma Q mgmw W il Hm. 0 6 0 O I G I 0 O P9 i -r-r 122123122;, 20 a 11. a7 11 T; 86 I l 2/] I ol O I 1' 3 I q @o#@ o .H O

INVENTOR 1%?"56205/1411111 BY -H. M. HILL 2,177,652

MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed Oct. 6, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 m105 4 a4 f, 101

ail-i 2% lm I m ll" INVENTOR Herbejj/VLHiZZ BY 1 M L ATTORNE Y Oct. 31,1939. H. M. HILL MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed Oct. 6, 1936 7Sheets-Sheet 7 I!!! n u i 5 1 III Ill,

INVENTOR I IHHIHH mi)!!! IIIIHIIH I l 'lf l r u I ATTO RNEY PatentedOct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES MACHINE ron MAKING curs Herbert M'. mu,Leonia, N. J.

Application October 6, 1936, Serial No. 104,324

Renewed February 2, 1939 27 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of cups or similar receptaclesfrom a blank or a continuous strip of sheet material, such as paper.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved machinefor automatically not limited to machines of this particular char-.

acter but may be embodied in machines for forming articles of adifferent character and for handling other material. Another object ofthe invention is to provide a compact, balanced machine of the statedcharacter having the cooperating folding, pressing and heading elementsthereof arranged so that the machine may be operated at ahigh speed,thus increasing the output of the cups.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine forfolding cups from fiat blanks and then beading the rim or mouth portionof the cups without transferring the cups from a folding or formingstation to a heading or crimping station as in the machines generally 1employed heretofore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined folding andbeading die assembly having obvious advantages, including simplicity,

compactness and increased output.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter described in which the lateral dimensions of the folding andbeading devices are less than the diameter of the blank from which thecups or containers are formed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved paperfeeding and cup discharge mechanisms operable at a high rate of speed inorder to utilize fully the enlarged capacity of the cup-forming devices.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof,wherein Fig. l is a plan view of a machine for makin paper cups having abeaded or crimped mouth portion; Figs. 2 and 3 are side and frontelevations o the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the machine taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 1;

Figs. 5v and 6 are horizontal sections taken on the lines 5-5 and 66 of4;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of one side of the upper part of the machine,showing the drive mechanism'for the paper feed rolls;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail sectional views taken on the lines 8-4 and 9-9of Fig. 3, respectively, 5 showing the bead cam and cutter cam, andassociated parts; and

Figs. 10-13 are detail views of the cutting, folding, pressing andbeading elements of the machine in various operative positions.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention themachine is supplied with paper stock, circular blanks are cut therefrom,folded and formed into cups or containers in a number of successive,relatively complex operal5 tions with a minimum movement or displacementof the paper article as it assumes its final form, whereby a compactorganization is provided capable of operating through successive cyclesmore rapidly than the machines in use hitherto. The cups formed are of acharacter which has been found most suitable,,for their intended use asdrinking cups and do not represent a compromise for the purpose ofobtaining higher output from the machine. Other detailed 25 features andadvantages of the machine will appear from the following detaileddescription thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a main frame consistingof a base 20 and 30 four upright rods or posts 2! extending from thebase 20 to an upper frame member 22. This main frame supports thedriving elements and reciprocating dies of the machine, as well as thepaper-feeding, cutting and cup delivery mechanism. A single drive shaft25 journaled in said frame is provided with actuating cams and the likefor driving the respective parts of the machine in properly timedrelation to form and and deliver a cup during each revolution thereof.In the embodiment shown, circular plate members or fly wheels 26 and 21are keyed to opposite ends of the drive shaft 25, the member 21 beingprovided with peripheral teeth meshing with a pinion 28 connectedtodrive pulley 45 29 representing any suitable source of power foroperating the machine. A clutch 30 may be interposed between the pulley29 and the pinion 28, as shown, and a handwheel 3| may be provided ifdesired for turning the drive shaft when 50 the latter is disconnectedfrom the source of power. The drive shaft may also be counterbalanced bywelghtlng the fly wheels 26 and 21 While the principal features of theinvention relate to the construction and arrangement of the folding,pressing and beading elements of the machine, it isthought that theexplanation of the detailed construction and operation of the machine asa whole will be simplified by describing the various steps involved inmaking a cup, commencing with the paper blank.

A roll of paper stock 35 is supported near the top of the machine framein such a manner that the web of paper 36 may be continuously drawntherefrom during the operation of the machine by the continuously drivenfeed roll 31 and presented to the blank-cutting and cupforming devices.Two intermittently operated feed rolls 38 and 39 are arranged onopposite sides of the upper frame member 22, said last mentioned feedrolls being rotated at a high speed until a desired length of paper webis fed and then latched until the next cycle of operation, permitting amomentary accumulation of a loop of paper between the feed rolls 31 and38 l as shown in Fig. 4. An idle roll 48 cooperating with each-of thedriven feed rolls 31, 38 and 39 maintainsthe paper web in frictionalcontact with said rolls. The feed rolls 40 may be springpressed againstthe opposing feed rolls and held by latch members 4| which arereleasable to acilitate threading the paper web between the feed rolls.

The feed roll 31 is driven through spur gears 45 (see Fig. 7) connectedby a chain 46 or other suitable drive to the drive shaft 25. A lateralshaft 48 journaled on the upper end of the main frame and extendingparallel to the ends of the feed rolls 31, 38 and 39 is rotated througha helical spring 50, bevel gears spur gears 45 and chain 46 from thedrive shaft 25. The feed roll 38 is driven from the shaft 48 throughbevel gears 52, and feed roll 39 through bevel gears 53.

The feed rolls 38 and 39 are held against rotation during theblank-cutting and initial folding operations. To this end, a disc 56(see Fig. 2) is mounted on or secured to the feed roll 38, saiddisccarrying a projecting lug or latch pin 51 adapted to engage a stopmember 58 normally positioned in the path of the latch pin 57. The stopmember 58 is preferably movably mounted on a latch arm 59, pivoted at68, and bears against a spring 6| provided to absorb the shock resultingfrom arresting the movement of the feed rolls 38 and 39, the shaft 48and the disc 56. A pivoted, spring-pressed stop member 62 is alsoprovided to prevent rebound of the disc 56 as the pin 51 strikes thestop member 58. While the disc 56 is latched in the position shown inFig. 2, the continued rotation of the gears 45 and 5t (see Fig. 7 windsup the spring 58 which when the disc 56' is unlatched to release thefeed rolls 38 and 39 rotates the latter to feed a predetermined lengthof the paper web 36 quickly underneath the blank-cutting knife to bedescribed hereinafter.

The latch arm 59 is depressed to release the latch pin 51 from the stopmember 58 by a projecting lug 65 on a rotating disc 88 driven by or inaccordance with the feed roll drive. As shown,

disc 56 and attached feed rolls 38 and 39 have been unlatched andprevents the lug 65 from again actuating the link 61 until the disc 66has completed another revolution. In order to prevent backlash due toslack in the chain 46, an adjustable takeup roller 15 may be provided asshown in Fig. 2.

It will be apparent that the rapid intermittent feeding of the web 36 bythe spring 50 operating on the feed rolls 38 and 39 merely takes up theslack in the web between the rolls 3'! and 38 formed by the continuouslydriven feed roll 31. Thus the paper is drawn at a uniform rate from theroll 35 although a predetermined length of paper is fed intermittentlyand almost instantaneously underneath the cutting knife. After eachrotation of the feed rolls 38 and 39, the rolls are latched by theabove-described latch mechanism, shown in the stop position in Fig. 2,until the cup blank is cut, the folding die depressed and raised and thecutting knife lifted to permit another length of paper web to be fed.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the cups are formed from acircular blank which is cut from the paper web 36 by a circular cutteror shearing knife and the cooperating shearing ring 8| (see Figs. 4, and'-11). The ring or cutter 8| is mounted in a block 82 secured to theupper frame member 22 or mounted in any suitable manner upon astationary part of the machine frame. is carried by a reciprocable yokemember 83 secured to the upper ends of four upright posts or rods 84,symmetrically arranged two on each side of the frame (see Figs.4, 5 and7). The posts or rods 84 pass through stationary guide or bearingmembers 85 and are secured at the lower ends thereof to an actuatingmember or yoke 86. The yoke 86, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, has adepending portion carrying two rollers, 81 engaging a cam 88 mounted onthe drive shaft 25. It will be apparent during the rotation of the shaft25,

the yoke 86 and the knife or cutter 88 secured thereto are reciprocatedin relation to the lower or stationary cutter 8| in properly timedrelation to the web-feeding and folding devices, and a circular blank iscut from the web of paper during each rotation of the drive shaft.

The circular blank is cut from the paper stock above the fluted orgrooved female die member 92 disposed within the block 82. The blank isformed with longitudinal plaits and pressed into concave shape, or'morespecifically into the shape of a cup by a reciprocating male die member93 in cooperation with the female die member 92. The die members 92 and93 are shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and except as noted hereinafter are of aconventional construction. The general form and arrangement of thefolding dies may obviously be varied in accordance with the nature ofthe sheet material being handled and the shape of article desired. Thedie member 92 is held in the block 82 by springs 94 permitting a limitedupward displacement of the die member for a purpose to be described.

As shown, the die member 93 comprises a series of radial blades,telescoping within the shank of The movable cutter or knife 80' the dieas the latter descends through the constricted portion of the die member92, and form-= ing longitudinal plaits in the paper blank. The diemember 93 is carried by a reciprocating crossbar 95 secured to the upperends of two upright posts or rods 96 mounted on the crosshead or yoke 91(see Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5). The crosshead or yoke 91 is reciprocated byrods 99 pivotally secured thereto and to the fly wheels 26 and 21, asshown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby the movable die member 93is moved downwardly and then retracted above the shearing knife 80during each revolution of the main drive shaft 25. The yoke 91 anddiemember 93 secured thereto are shown in their extreme lower positions inFigs. 2 and 3.

The die member 93 is swivelled in the crossbar 95 in order that saidmember may be turned with respect to the. female die member 92 as theformer descends, thereby ensuring an even, uniform folding of the plaitsin the cup blank. To this end, a lateral bar I00 pinned to the shaft ofdie 93 ispivotally connected to an actuating rod I III (see Figs. 2, 3and 4) The outer end of the rod IN is pivoted to a link I02 having theupper end thereof pivoted to the crossbar 95 and carrying a roller I03at the lower end. The roller I03 is held in engagement with a cam plamI04, secured to the frame of the machine, by a spring I05. As thecrossbar 95 carrying the die member 93 is raised and lowered, thepivoted link I02 moves back and forth, thereby reciprocating the rod IIII and turning the die member 93 through the connecting bar I00. Thetwisting movement of the die member 93 as the flat blank is foldedfacilitates the formation of uniform plaits in the folded cup. 1

The descending movement of the die member 93 ejects the partly completedcup through the bottom of the hollow die member 92-and the cup dropsupon a supporting member IIII, the stem of which rests upon the yoke 96.As shown in Figs. 4, 10 and li, the member H0 is located within aconical or\tapered pressing die I II and, when the cup drops eneath theend of the die member 92, the upper d of the cup expands radiallybecause of the resiliency of the paper so that when the pressing die'I II is raised as described hereinafter, the folds or plaits in the cupwill be pressed between the die III and the complementary tapered outersurface of the die member 92. In order to insure that the cup will beproperly seated in the die I II even when the extruded cup spreads oropens out excessively, pivoted fingers I01 adapted to engage the lip ofthe cup as the die I I I is raised may be provided, as shown in Figs. 2and 3. The fingers I01 are pivoted on support- 4 ing rods I08 andspring-pressed against the tapered extension of the die member 92.

The pressing die I is carried by the yoke 91 within a. ring member 2threaded to receive bolts or rods II3 (see Fig. 4) -carrying a crossbarII4 which is loose on said bolts or rods and is urged away from the ringmember I I2 by springs II5 encircling the rods I I3. The normal positionof the crossbar H4 is fixed by the nuts IIS on the ends of said rods.The die III and ring member II2 are raised by the yoke 91 from theposition relative to the die member 92 shown in Fig. 10' until theplaits in the cup are pressed between the pressing die III and the outersurface of the die member92.

' At this time, the upward movement of the ring I I2 is accelerated andthe ring is projected above in Fig. 12. This momentary overtravel of thering H2 is effected by a rocker arm I20 (see Fig. 3), said arm beingpivoted to the yoke 91 and arranged to lift the ring I I2 with respectto the yoke 91 through the crossbar H4 and the springs II5 when theouter end of said rocker arm is engaged by an adjustable shoulder ormember I2I on a vertical pull rod I22. The pull rod I22 is periodicallydepressed by a cam I23 through the instrumentality of a pivotedintermediate link I24 supported by a bracket I25 on the base of themachine frame, as shown in Fig. 8. In this manner a sudden impulse isimparted to the ring II 2 while the die member 92 is being raisedagainst the tension of the springs 94 by the contact of the pressing dieIII with said die member 92.

The ring H2 is provided with a peripheral groove, I30 mating with agroove I3I in a crimping die I32 surrounding the die member 92 andabutting against a shoulder I33 on the latter until the pressing die IIIraises the die member 92. As clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the upperlip or mouth portion of the cup is turned over by the crimping die I32to form a tight bead while the body portion of the cup is pressedbetween the dies 92 and III. The upward movement of the pressing die IIIlags behind that of the ring II2 so that the members H2 and I32 engageto provide a beading recess of spiral cross-section before a substantiallength of the cup wall is projected into said recess. Fig. 13illustrates the uppermost positions of the dies 92 and III where n thebeaded or crimped mouth portion of the cup is completely formed.

It will be noted that the lateral dimensions of the cup-formingmechanism, excluding the supporting yokes, are less than the diameter ofthe paper blank cut from the web 36. Therefore, it is apparent that ifdesired two or more units may be mounted side by side to provide gangoperation in which a plurality of cups is formed simultaneously from asingle web of paper.

Upon the descent of the yoke 91, the completed cup drops upon thesupporting member I I0 and is ejected into the delivery trough I40 bythe reciprocating ejector bar I4I. As shown, the ejector bar I4I may beactuated by a spring I42, being normally held in retracted position by acam I43 engaging a roller I44 on a link I45 connected through a link I46to the ejector bar. The ejector bar is supported in a suitable guidemember I41 on the opposite side of the frame from the delivery troughI40, and the portion of the ejector bar which engages the cup supportedby the memberv I I0 is arranged to tip the cups as they are ejected fromthe machine so that they will lie in nested relation in the trough I40,as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the machine disclosed forthe purpose of explaining the invention is adapted to form paper cups orthe like rapidly and automatically from paper stock. Obviously certainfeatures of construction described in connection with the cup-makingmachine are not limited to machines of this character. Furthermore manychanges in the construction and arrangement of the component parts willoccur to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for folding a sheet comprising two relatively movableforming die members, means for moving one of said die members relativeto the other to fold a flat sheet into concave shape and means forcrimping the edge of the folded article while in engagement with one ofsaid forming die members.

2. A machine of the character described comprising means for folding aflat sheet into cup shape, said means including a fluted female diemember and a cooperating male die member, and means for crimping orbeading the rim of the cup while in engagement with said female diemember.

3. A machine for folding a sheet into a cup comprising two relativelymovable forming die members, means for actuating said die members tofold a sheet into cup shape with plaited side wallsand means cooperatingwith one of said die members for forming a bead on the rim of saidfolded cup.

4. A machine for forming cups from flat sheets comprising forming andcrimping die members for folding the sheets into cup shape and forming abead at the mouth portion thereof, all of said forming and crimping diemembers being relatively movable along .a common axis, and

having longitudinal plaits, said female die mem-' ber having a centralaperture, means for forcing the cup through said aperture, a pressingdie in axial alinement with said first-mentioned die members to receivethe extruded cup for pressing the plaits or foldsin the wall of the cupand means for beading the rim of the cup while the body portion thereofis held by said pressing die.

7. A machine for making paper cups comprising relatively movable maleand female die members adapted to fold a flat blank into a cup havinglongitudinal plaits, said female die member having a central aperture,means for moving one of said die members with respect to the other tofold the blank into cup shape and force the cup through the aperture inthe female die member and means cooperating with the female die memberfor shaping the extruded cup.

8. A machine for making paper cups comprising two relatively movablemale and female die members adapted to fold a flat blank into a cuphaving longitudinal plaits, said female diemem ber having a centralaperture, means for moving one of said die members with respect to theother to fold the blank into cup shape and force the cup through theaperture in the female die member, another die member adjacent theaperture in the female die member and means including said other diemember for crimping the mouth portion of the extruded cup.

9. A machine for making paper cups comprising relatively movable maleand female die members adapted to fold a flat blank into a cup havinglongitudinal plaits, said female die member having a central aperture,means for moving one of said die members with respect to the other tofold the blank into cup shape and force the cup through the aperture inthe female die member, means including said female die member forgripping the extruded cup and means for crimping or heading the mouthportion of the cup while so held.

10. A machine for making paper cups comprising a hollow shaping dieprovided with a projecting end portion having a central aperture, meansfor forcing a folded cup through said aperture and means including theend portion of said die for thereupon gripping said cup.

11. A machine for making paper cups comprising a hollow shaping 'dieprovided with a projecting end portion having a central aperture, meansfor forcing a folded cup through said aperture, means for returning thecup into contact with the projecting end portion of said die and meansfor crimping or beading the mouth 'portion of the cup while in contactwith said die.

12. A machine for making paper cups comprising a frame, folding diessupported thereon, means for reciprocating one of said dies with respectto the other die, a reciprocable yoke carried by said frame in alinementwith the reciprocable die, a crimping die carried by said yoke and meanson said yoke for effecting relative movement betweensaid crimping dieand the yoke at a predetermined point in the travel of the yoke.

13. A machine for making paper cups comprising a frame, folding diessupported thereon, means for reciprocating one of said dies with respectto the other die, a reciprocable yoke carried by said frame in alinementwith the recip-. rocable die, pressing and crimping dies carried by saidyoke, means including said crimping die for beading the mouth portion ofthe cup and means on saidyoke for eifectingrelative movementbetween-said pressing and crimping dies at a predetermined point in thetravel of the yoke.

14. A machine for making paper cups comprising means including a hollowfemale die for folding a flat blank into cup shape, a movable similarpressing die adapted to receive the folded cup, means for transferringsaid cup from said folding means to said pressing die, a movablecrimping die surrounding said pressing die and means for concurrentlyadvancing said pressing and crimping dies together and then projectingthe crimping die ahead of said pressing die to roll a bead at the mouthportion of the cup.

15. A machine for making paper cups comprising means for folding a fiatblank into cup shape, a movable pressing die adapted to receive thefolded cup, a movable crimping die surrounding said pressing die, areciprocable yoke carrying both of said dies and means including amember pivoted on said yoke for effecting relative movement between saiddies.

16. A machine for making paper cups comprising means for folding a flatblank into cup shape,

a movable pressing die adapted to receive the folded cup, a movablecrimping die surrounding said pressing die, both of said dies being inaxial alinement with said folding means, a reciprocable yoke carryingboth of said dies and means for actuating one of said dies with respectto said yoke, said last-mentioned means including a rocker arm pivotedto said yoke and an abut- 18. A machine for making paper cups comprisingmovable shaping dies and means for actuat ing said dies, said meansincluding a reciprocating member carrying one of said dies, a pivotedrocker arm supported on said member and secured to said one of saiddies, an abutment engaged by one end of said roclger arm and meansforoscillating said abutment.

19. A machine for making cups from a blank of sheet material comprisingfolding dies arranged to fold the blank into cup shape, crimping diesfor forming a bead at the mouth portion of the cup, means forpositioning a blank in operative relation to said folding dies, thelateral dimensions of the cross section of the machine parallel to theblank as it is fed into the machine occupied by the folding and crimpingdies being not greater than those of said blank, and means for actuatingsaid dies.

20. A machine for making cups comprising means for supporting a web ofsheet material, folding means, means for cyclically operating saidfolding means and means for intermittently advancing said web in timedrelation to the cyclic operation of the folding means, saidlastmentioned means including a latch mechanism and releasing meanstherefor operatively connected to the. means for cyclically operatingthe folding means. I

21. A machine for making cups comprising means for supporting a web ofsheet material, blank-cutting and folding means cooperating therewith,means for feeding a portion of said web at a substantially steady rateand means for feeding predetermined lengths of the web intermittently tothe blank-cutting and folding means at a rate higher than said steadyrate, said last mentioned means comprising a latched feed .roll, ayielding drive connection to said feed roll and means for intermittentlyreleasing said feed roll.

22. A machine for making cups comprising a cup-holding member conformingto the shape of the body portion of the cup, means engaging the lip ofthe cupto urge the same into said holding member and separate means forcrimping the lip of the cup while the same is held in said holdingmember.

23. A,machine for folding a sheet into a plaited cup comprisingrelatively movable forming die members, means including said die membersfor folding a sheet into cup-shape at one station and means at the samestation cooperating with said first mentioned die members for forming abead 'on the rim of the folded cup whereby heading of the cup iseifected without transfer.

24. A machine for folding a sheet into a plaited cup comprising alignedrelatively reciprocable forming die members adapted to fold a sheet intocup-shape, means including a reciprocable forming member for forming ahead on the rim of a folded cup and coaxial reciprocable cross-headssupporting one of said forming die members and said last mentionedforming member.

25. A machine for folding a sheet into a plaited cup comprisingrelatively movable forming die members, means including said diemembers'for folding a sheet into cup-shape, bead forming means arrangedto receive a cup-shaped blank as it leaves said forming die members andmeans forsupporting and actuating said die members and bead formingmeans whereby the bead is formed on the rim of the folded cup withouttransfer from the station where the initial folding operation isperformed.

26. A machine for making paper cups comprising a. hollow shaping dieprovided with a projecting end portion having a central aperture, meansfor forcing a folded cup through said aperture, a grooved crimping diesurrounding said end portion of the first mentioned die and meansincluding said crimping die for shaping the mouth portion of the cupextruded through said hollow shaping die.

' 27. A machine for making paper cups comprising a hollow shaping dieprovided with a projecting end portion having a central aperture, meansfor forcing a folded cup through said aperture, 9. grooved crimping diesurrounding the projecting end portion of said shaping die,"

a cooperating grooved crimping die adapted to be moved into engagementwith the first mentioned crimping die and means including said crimpingdies for retaining an extruded cup against said end portion of theshaping die and beading the mouth portion of a cup while held againstsaid last mentioned die.

:ILH' iiL-i" '1 ML HILL,

